Why is this piece of American history is called the Sacred History?
Spirituals sung by slaves during times of
tribulation have been described as sacred. Like the spirituals this
history appears to support and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This story starts in Africa, the birthplace of
all man kind. A recent study called "Journey
of Man" studied the DNA of people all over the world. The study revealed that all
humans evolved from people that look similar to modern African Bushmen. The only
thing that separates variations in skin color around the world is the mutation
of a single gene. Old ideas of race have changed.

African slaves lost their identity when
they were enslaved by Africans and shipped to America. The work of
historian Dr. Mechal Sobel in her book called "Trablin
on" reveals however that they established a new
identity that was found in the Bible. They believed that they were the
"Children of Israel."

Ancestors that reside in heaven played an
important role in the lives of Africans. They were included in the
prayers of the living and they petitioned them for guidance and
protection. Slavery broke the chain between ancestors and their
descendants. Family members were separated when sold and it was common
for slaves to not know deceased ancestors. Slaves were introduced to
Christianity by their owners to address their own guilt and Jesus took the
place of their ancestors. Jesus had
ministered to the “undesirables” during his life and accepted those that
were discarded and disliked by the tribe. Jesus gave comfort to the
lame, the blind, the sick, the deformed and the informant.

Then he said, `If anyone takes in a child like this
for my sake, he takes in me. And if anyone takes in me, he takes in the
one who sent me. The one who takes the least or lowest place among you
is the greatest.' Luke 9:48

Slave owners created an environment of
hopelessness for their slaves. This was done to discourage slaves from
taking action to obtain their freedom. Both mental and physical chains
bound slaves. Chains restricted their physical movement and mental
chains removed hope.

How does one over come a feeling of
hopelessness so that action can be taken when they have no power to
influence their future? Black’s were not allowed to read or write but
God gave them the gift of song. The answer is in a spiritual which says
“God specializes, in things thought impossible. He can do what no other
power can do.” Although they were not allowed to read the Bible nor pray
together, they often stole away to Jesus in the woods and practice their
faith in the face of great danger. These secret prayer meetings or
"steal away" was illegal throughout the South and if caught the penalty was
flogging. These prayer meetings were outlawed because slaves prayed for
freedom and the secret meetings were considered a risk to Southern American national
security.

Former slaves constantly refer to
themselves as “niggers.” The word “nigger” came from the pronunciation
of the Latin word “neger”
or “neeger” which in English and German means "black." The word neger was dropped
from the English language and replaced with the word "nigger."
The word nigger became
a derogatory label because slaves were extremely oppressed by English
speaking people. "Negro" was the Spanish word for "black."
The Spanish
had more regard for their slaves than Americans, so the word Negro
is not a derogatory label. The practice of using the word nigger to
refer to African Americans has continued in African American culture
however it remains derogatory. The common use of the word nigger is
being challenged however by the African American community.

The horrors of slavery were kept in
darkness. A romanticized view of happy or content slaves prevailed in
the South. The book “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” revealed slave life
for the first time and sparked the
Civil War. The life of millions of slave went undocumented until the WPA
Federal
Writers Project of the nineteen-thirties. Thousands of former slaves were interviewed and
their lives in slavery days were recorded. These slave narratives reveal
the religious life of these people.

It was a
wide spread believe throughout the South that black slaves believed that
they we the Children of Israel. Referring to the church congregation as
"children" still occurs in black churches today. What would
make those that were held in low regard, believe that they were biblical
characters? Slaves chose the biblical identity of the Children of
Israel because that identity gave them hope.
The
Mary Reynolds
narrative is one of the most descriptive narrative of slavery that was
recorded. In the
Mary Reynolds narrative she said that they prayed for the end of
"tribulation." The word “tribulation” occurs only in the Book of Revelation 7:2-14.

Several descriptions of the Children of Israel in Revelation are similar to the
plight of the American black slave. First, in Revelation
the
Children of Israel are described as being made up of many tribes and
tongs. This description fits African slaves since
their homelands were widely distributed over of Africa. Many of these
tribes were enemies in Africa and enslaved each other in war. Slaves
with different languages were mixed together and they had to learn the
common language of "English." Second, Revelation says that their clothes
were cleaned in the “Blood of the Lamb.” African Americans either free
or enslaved were forbidden from congregating in prayer meetings under
penalty of flogging if caught. During floggings, the whip tore their skin, which
bloodied their clothes. The lamb stands for innocents and praying for
freedom was an innocent act. Finally, the Revelation Children of Israel also came out of great
tribulation. American slave Mary Reynolds referred to slavery
as tribulation and she said that they prayed for its end. An
old slave told her that one day they will only be slaves of God.
If the American slaves were the Children of Israel described in
Revelation then they would be
delivered from tribulation and delivered to “the promise land” where
they would serve the one on the throne day and
night. They
were not seeking pride or vanity from the Children of Israel
identity, but they sought to be delivered from tribulation.

American slavery was cruel which had a
devastating affect on tender hearted slavers as well as slaves. Tender
hearts ranged from common house-wives to the Vice President of the
Confederacy, Alex Stephens. Slavers that were hard hearted and
indifferent had no trouble sleeping at night after inflicting cruelty on
slaves. Tenderhearted people on the other hand had compassion and could
feel the pain that the slave experienced. Their tender hearts were
frequently broken as well, unless they chose to take action

John Newton was one of the first men to
speak out against slavery. Newton claimed that Jesus would not condone
it. Newton was well acquainted with the horrors of slavery since he had
commanded a slave ship. Newton suggested that the slaver was possibly
more damaged by slavery than the slave. The slave lost all his liberty
and possessions but the slaver often lost his humanity. Newton documented his religious conversion in
the song he wrote called “Amazing Grace.”

Like Newton,
John Brown
believed that Jesus would not support slavery. He felt that a rebellion
was the answer and he was hung following its failure. Slaves sang "He is
gone to be a soldier in the army of the Lord." His death ignited
the Civil War and inspired the song “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

Few
people believed that slaves would fight for
their freedom. In fact, the shame that slaves bore was largely due to
their apparent acceptance of their humiliating situation. There
were however, forward thinking minds that believed that black men would fight for
their freedom if given an opportunity. White men such as General Hunter,
General Butler and eventually Abraham
Lincoln supported John Brown’s plan of “Arming the Negro.”

Harriet Tubman was the first
woman to lead a Federal army into battle in the history of the United
States. In 1863 she guided Col. Montgomery and 300 black soldiers into
the South. They returned with 800 slaves and thousands of dollars worth
of goods as well.

Preachers play an important role in Black History. Since slaves had no
control over their lives, they learned to rely on the power of God. The
role of the preacher was to teach his followers about that power and
show them how to use it to improve their daily lives. The preacher
Big Bob realized that it was important for
Blacks to fight for their freedom so he led is congregation on the
battlefield as well as from the pulpit.

White
officer’s that led black men were
the most intelligent, brave and moral men in either Union or Confederate
armies. Confederates targeted their white officers because they felt that
black men would run if their white
officers were shot. The white officers that led black men were also criticized by friends and
family members for fighting with Black men.

General Butler mustered the first black regiment into the Union Army.
They were free blacks from New Orleans and were called The Louisiana
Native Guard. They were the only black regiment to have black officers
and they fought in the first major black Civil war battle, Battle of Port Hudson.
The Battle of
Millikens Bend
also occurred in Louisiana. Black troops carried the battle but had more
casualties than any Union regiment during a battle in the Civil War. It
is reported that white Union troops ran at Millikens Bend. The 54th
Massachusetts were depicted in a movie called "Glory." They fought
bravely at
Fort
Wagner. Petersburg was an important
Union target and was under siege. An elaborate plan was developed that
called for a tunnel be dug under Confederate lines then destroy with
explosives. Black troops were planed to lead the attack but were
replaced with white troops by General Grant. Results were a disaster and
Grant admitted that he made the error. Black troops from Michigan fought
at
Honey Hill,
with courage and determination.

At the battle of New Market Heights occurred outside of the Confederate
capital of Richmond Va. The 14 Congressional Medals of Honor given
to black soldiers, who fought in the Battle of New Market Heights remains
the highest honor given by America to a group of African Americans. The
medals were given to flag bears that saved the flag for a rallying point
under heavy fire. Medals were also given to sergeants that rallied their
men after their white officers were killed or wounded. Since these were the first
Congressional Medals of Honor given to Blacks, the battle proved that
“all men are created equal.” Prior to the Union victory at New Market
Heights, President Lincoln trailed his anti-slave liberation candidate
in his bid for re-election. Union victories at New Market Heights and Atlanta
were enough for Lincoln to pass his opponent and win the election. Both
colonels that led the charge at New Market Heights, were promoted to
General. They made sure that their black troops were placed at the front
of the Union Army when they entered the Confederate capitol of
Richmond
Virginia.

At the Battle of Saltville Va.
black troops displayed their character and humanity. On the way to the
battle they were teased and insulted. During the battle they carried the
battle line and treated their rebel prisoners humanely. Even after
suffering abuse by their slave masters while being slaves and following
the murder of black troops captured by confederates.

Following the Civil War the slavery
experience was used to bring people closer to Jesus. Gospel groups such
as the
Fisk Jubilee Singers used the sacred songs of slavery to touch
the hearts and soul of people around the world.

This is the history of 20 million people but it is not well known. It is
not taught in public schools yet it is "common knowledge" American
history. This history can be found on the web, in book stores or in
libraries. Perhaps it is because this history is sacred and must be
taught with
The Gospel.